Thank you to Alfred A Knopf publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read a copy of There Are Rivers in the Sky. I apologize for writing my review late but, I enjoyed another book by Elif Shafak and her writing can be detailed and I did not want to rush through the book. There are Rivers in the Sky was a detailed book of stories that involved two rivers the Thames and the Tigris river. When I read a book by this author I no I will learn something and this time I learned about Turkish culture. Zaleeka was a fascinating character who finds happiness in water and researches. I think this book could of been a little shorter. I do look forward to reading another book by this author.

This is a beautifully written and thought provoking book. I enjoyed the plot lines of the three characters and how they were tied together. The book is so full of ancient and modern history that was well researched.
If you enjoy history and interconnected timelines, I recommend There Are Rivers in the Sky.

A stunning narrative unearthing the deep and layered complexity of simplicity. Shafak is a poetic historian that binds and unwinds stories that live within humanity. Shafak is one of the few writers who can slow down, expand and redirect a heart attack in the literary sense of course. Gorgeous and you will be better for committing your precious minutes to this work.

There are three POVs: Arthur in the mid-1800s from London, also Zaleekhah in London, but modern times, then finally Narin, a young girl in Turkey and Iraq in 2014.
All of the characters stories revolve around Mesopotamia, and the epic poem of Gilgamesh. There is only a slight intertwining of the three stories.
Much of the novel is based in historical fact, which makes it all the more poignant, particularly with the tragedies. This was good storytelling and well written.

Elif Shafak's There Are Rivers in the Sky was an absolutely captivating read. That sounds a bit over the top but I really couldn't put it down. Shafak intertwines multiple timelines and characters into a tapestry that spans from ancient Mesopotamia to modern-day London. I'm a bit shocked I followed so easily considering my ADHD but my book club picked it so I was determined. One of the best aspects of the novel is how water is used as a central motif, symbolizing connection and continuity across different eras and cultures. This thematic element adds depth that made me reflect on the lasting nature of our human experiences.

The characters are well-developed, each with their unique struggles and growth, making their journeys relatable and sometimes profound. The eloquent prose and intricate structure meant I'd have to take it in doses but I fell back into it easily every time. Overall, this is a beautifully written novel that explores our interconnectedness through the ages, with thought-provoking ideas. I highly recommend it.

An epic tale told over centuries, all connected by a single drop of water. It begins in the fertile birthplace of Mesopotamia, when a king builds a great library, however, it is destroyed. Yet, his beloved poem about Gilgamesh is saved. This poem is discovered again in the late 19th C by Arthur who is born as king of the sewers, along the Thames. As he is beaten one day, he focuses on a book. As he becomes an apprentice at a publishing company, his genius at deciphering cuneiform is revealed.
Narin is a young girl who goes deaf at an early age. But, her grandmother wants to baptize her and teach her the traditions of their family. However ISIS and its cruel regime take its toll and there is a massacre in 2014. Finally, Zaleekah, who studies water, divorces her husband. Her uncle who raised her is disappointed. She discovers what he wants to do to save his grandchild, and she rebels against it.
An absolutely beautiful story and the connection we have to water.
An interesting author's note at the end, also mentioning the history behind the story.

I’ve been a long time fan of Elif Shafak’s books and typically enjoy discovering how her multiple plot lines are connected. However, I found the theme of water connecting all of us too tenuous a connection for the three plot lines. I remember being 65% into the book and still not being 100% sure how the different characters were connected. My favorite parts of the book were Shafak’s exploration of British imperialism and how it still plays a major role in the art world and learning about the culture of the Yazidi. As a hearing care professional, I was also impressed by Shafak’s accurate depiction of hearing loss. Despite these factors, the overall story failed to hook me and I think fewer plot lines would have made the story more enjoyable

I savored the lush writing in this epic tale that ushered me to other worlds and times through one drop of water. Profound storytelling!

--Dianna Rostad USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of You Belong Here Now

Sometimes you read a book and you know you are reading a future classic. That's what it felt like reading this book and even weeks/months later, I still find myself thinking about the story and its characters. There was something so immersive about the book while also informative and empathetic and moving. All of the characters felt real, like they sat with me as I read the book and moved through their stories. I think the pacing was good and kept the story moving decently. I loved the historical parts that dealt with Ashurbanipal and his library, bringing someone so ancient into such a modern story.

The Yazidi are a people I knew nothing about before I read this book. I would love to know more about these people and their culture! I absolutely LOVED everything about this book, and the people interwoven throughout. Thank you so much for allowing me to read this beautiful, wonderful story! 5+ stars.

I was interested in this one with the subject matter and the ancient/modern timelines. In the end, it fell a bit short for me. Interesting premise with water being the connection between past and present.

Multiple storylines are masterfully woven together in this monumental story. It all begins in Ancient Mesopotamia when a powerful King built a fabulous library along the River Tigris. One important artifact in the library was the tale of Gilgamesh, an epic poem. The library was destroyed but parts of the poem were later recovered.

In 1840 a boy is born in the slums of London. His name is Arthur and he has a photographic memory, leading his neighbors to call him King Arthur of the Slums. He is fascinated when the Lamassus are delivered to the British Museum. These ancient sculptures captivate young Arthur and eventually bring him to a job at the museum where he works assiduously at translating the cuneiforms.

In 2014 Turkey, Narin, a young girl is losing her hearing. Her grandmother wants her baptized at a temple in Iraq. The girl is Yazidi and this brings trouble for the family. Plus, ISIS is establishing its influence and causing problems throughout the area.

The last timeline is set in 2018 and involves Zaleekah, a hydrologist who has moved into a houseboat on the Thames in London. She studies climate change and the world of water. Her section includes information on underground rivers, and the changing landscape of waterways with dams built and valleys submerged.

What brings all the stories together is a single drop of water. There’s a flow to the plot that follows the cycle of water as it falls from the sky, slips down people’s skin and travels through rivers, into the earth and eventually returning to the sky. The imagery is stunning and Shafak’s language is poetic. Her characters are imaginative and rich. This is a book to be savored for the vastness of the story and the exquisite writing.

Arthur’s tale is the most compelling but the way these disparate plotlines ae woven together through water is masterful. There’s a lot of history from the Ancient World to a Dickensian time all the way up to the Middle East threats from ISIS. This is a spectacular book that flows through time just as the rich imagery of water flows through our lives.

This is probably my fifth Elif Shafak book, and I’m continually in awe of how she weaves disparate stories across time and space so seamlessly. Her characters are rich, vibrant, and utterly unique, making this yet another novel I could completely lose myself in. The writing is beautiful, the story stunning—an absolutely transportive read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak!

I love Elif Shafak’s writing. This was a beautifully written story. It took me a little bit to get into it, but once I did I really enjoyed it.

Enjoyed this book so much. It took me a while to get into it, but after that I was totally engrossed in this multi timeline tale with water at its centre. Elif’s writing truly transports you into the different timelines - Arthur’s story being particularly compelling. The true stories of Mesopotamia and the Yazidis are woven in very effectively and I enjoyed reading the “research-y’ sections. As always with Elif’s novels, I never fail to learn something new. The plot truly picks up towards the end as all three timelines came together, and I definitely wished for more as I got to the last page.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I started this book with high expectations as I have loved other works by Elif Shafak. The story connects humans and nature through the history of water. Unfortunately, I did not feel connected to any of the story lines. Aurther's character was the most compelling, but his story line was long and drawnout. I struggled to find how the other two characters connected to him. The story became more capitaviting in the last 100 or so pages, but it is a slow burn. It is possible I would have enjoyed this more if I knew more about the history of the places the story took place. The only familiar storyline was ISIS. I recommend this novel to fans of Mesapatamian history. 3/5 Stars.

***There Are Rivers in the Sky weaves together three stories set in three timelines, featuring disparate characters, to explore interconnectedness, the power of water, echoing tragedies, and the timelessness of the written word.***

Water remembers. It is humans who forget.
In 1840 in London, young Arthur lives near the sewage-filled River Thames, desperate to escape poverty and his abusive household.

In 2014 Turkey, ten-year-old Narin is living near the Tigris and is affected by a disorder that will cause her to go permanently deaf.

And in 2018 London, Zaleekah, a hydrologist, moves into a houseboat on the Thames when she and her husband break up, but she can't shake her thoughts of suicide.

There Are Rivers in the Sky traces the stories of these three disparate characters living alongside rivers in three different times, interconnected by a single drop of water and "the Epic of Gilgamesh," an ancient poem that may have the power to change each of their lives.

Later, when the storm has passed, everyone will talk about the destruction it left behind, though no one, not even the king himself, will remember that it all began with a single raindrop.
Shafak uses the life-giving--and at times, through flood or pollution, life-taking--waters of the Tigris and the Thames to help shape this story in three timelines.

Through Zaleekah's 2018-set story we explore climate change, pollution, and the consequences of abusing natural resources, as well as the questionable morality of private or museum ownership of other cultures' precious artifacts. Yet the river is a backdrop to her reimagined future, her newfound inner strength and search for love, and her renewed hope in life.

Narin's story, aside from modern modes of travel and communication, feels like a tragedy pulled from deep in the past--and, in fact, it is said that the Yazidi people have been endlessly beaten down and massacred over and over again since ancient times. In a shockingly speedy escalation of force, Isis brings centuries-old hatred to trap and murder innocent Yazidis, eradicating communities in relentless genocide.

And clever Arthur slowly pulls himself out of a London slum by lucking into an apprenticeship at a printing shop with nurturing mentors. His curiosity about antiquities leads him to the British Museum and, eventually, a key role in deciphering tablets, then a formative trip to the Middle East and Nineveh, which will be the source of his one true love and also his undoing.

Shafak makes what could have been an unwieldy or disjointed-feeling set of complex situations into a tragically beautiful intertwined novel that shines a light on weighty issues at three points in space and time. I was haunted by this and fascinated as well.

I received a prepublication edition of There Are Rivers in the Sky courtesy of Knopf and NetGalley.

Writing: 5/5
Pace: 3/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Ending: 4/5
Enjoyability: 4/5

This book is not talked about enough. The writing was so beautiful… it was perfection to the setting and time period that the story takes place in. I actually learned quite a lot in the Victorian era and about Mesopotamia. The characters all had a purpose… a motivation… a path to take. There were multiple POVs written and different timelines but it makes it enjoyable to try to understand and put pieces together. The pacing was reasonable for the story, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the time period and the struggles of the characters that contributed to the ending and growth. It has great themes of society that is still relevant until this day.

Great book!

Elif Shafak is a masterful writer and this book proves to be a strong work. There Are Rivers in the Sky is a book that examines how our pasts link to the present, connecting time via a single drop of water. Experience wise, I tried to begin reading the physical version of this book twice before starting the audio. The audio hooked me and once I started listening I began reading it in both audio and visually.

In this book there are three points of view and timelines. My favorite of the timelines was Arthur who we meet as a young boy born in the slums. He is extremely intelligent and his genius somewhat helps to pull him out of his bleak circumstances a travel to places he has only dreamed of visiting. Next we have Narin, a young girl who is losing her ability to hear but comes from a lineage of people who are blessed precognitive talents. Third we have Zaleekah, a woman and hydrologist who is rebuilding her life and finding herself following the end of her marriage.

Arthur's story was in my opinion the strongest and the most compelling. I don't usually look things up while I'm reading but I googled several things while reading so I could visualize the story even better. All of the timelines in this book are written vividly and descriptively and the historical information is accessible and consuming. The three stories are connected both by the theme of water preserving history and by the connection of all of the characters to ancient Mesopotamia.

The standout aspect of this book is the expertly crafted storytelling. Elif Shafak takes the reader on an exceptional journey only to leave them at the end with a book hangover and an existential crisis. In certain ways it reminded me of Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr and also The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese. I rated this book 4 stars.